ATLÉTICO MADRID
Joao Félix is officially an Atlético Madrid player
The promising 19-year-old striker joins Simeone’s side, with Atleti paying Benfica the full 120 million buy-out clause.
Joao Félix is officially an Atlético Madrid player, with the Portuguese rising star signing from Benfica for 127.2 million euros.
After months of negotiations between Atlético Madrid and Benfica, the talks accelerated over the past few days with the player and his agent Jorge Mendes in Madrid. Atléti have now secured the services of one of the most sought after footballers in Europe, thanks to his quality, the promise of a glittering career and the fact he's still only 19. Atléti saw off a concerted effort from Manchester City to sign the player, with the Premier League club in the race right up to the end.
The LaLiga club have agreed to pay the player's 120-million-euro buyout clause, plus another 6 million eruos to finance the payment installment plan, and a further 1.2 million to Porto as a solidarity payment -- bringing the total figure to 127.2 million euros.
Joao Felix to cover Griezmann
Joao Félix joins Atlético Madrid to cover the departure of Griezmann, who announced that he would be leaving this summer, although the French striker is yet to find a club. Félix, despite his youth, therefore will instantly become one of the biggest names in the squad coached by Simeone. The Argentinean said in an interview with Fox Sports about the now former Benfica player: "We wanted a lad with talent who can pick up our ideas".
Joao Félix exploded onto the scene in the recently finished season, in which he played 43 games across all competitions, scoring 20 goals and setting up 11. He plays as a striker, though can also operate as a winger or an attacking midfielder.
Felix most expensive signing in Atlético history
Last summer, Joao Félix made the move from Benfica's second team up to the first team squad and became one of most important players in Bruno Lage's side. In one year his value leapt (according to Transfermarkt) from two million euros to 70, although Atleti are paying the full 120 million buy-out clause, making him the most expensive signing in the history of the Spanish club, well in excess of the 70 million euros paid last summer for Thomas Lemar from Monaco.